The Ostholm Watch

The Ostholm Watch
Emblem
An Ostholm Watch vessel operating off Skarnes in 1967
Active	1964–late 1970s
Location	Skarnes, █lmarka
Purpose	Retrieval of Ostholm experiment remains
Members	Former fishermen and isolated individuals
Dissolved	Late 1970s
Known for	Conflicts with local fisheries
Legacy	Cautionary tale of fear and desperation

The Ostholm Watch was a clandestine network of scavengers formed in 1964 on the treeless islet of Skarnes. Their purpose was to retrieve the bodies of Ostholm experiments subjects who washed ashore following the collapse of the trials in 2038. The group operated under the belief that reanimated remains would be used by cultists, specifically followers of the Cult of Landon, to threaten the local population. Their activities were driven by desperation and fear, leading to conflicts with local fisheries whose livelihoods were disrupted by the scavengers' operations.^[1]

The network coalesced in 1964, drawing from isolated individuals who had witnessed the aftermath of the Ostholm experiments. Early members included former fishermen turned scavengers who utilized small boats to search the treacherous waters around Skarnes. Their initial efforts were marked by secrecy and urgency, driven by rumors that cultists sought to reanimate the deceased. The group's methods involved navigating dangerous currents and storm-tossed seas to locate remains before they could be claimed by others or other opportunists.^[2]

The Ostholm Watch's operations frequently clashed with the local fishing community. Their desperate searches for remains often disrupted fishing nets and endangered boats near the islet. These confrontations led to violent incidents, as both parties viewed the other as a threat to their survival. The fisheries accused the scavengers of recklessness, while the Watch maintained that their actions were necessary to prevent a supernatural catastrophe. These tensions escalated into open conflict, drawing attention from local authorities and complicating the already precarious situation on Skarnes.^[3]

The Ostholm Watch ceased operations by the late 1970s, as the immediate threat of cultist reanimation campaigns subsided and local authorities increased their oversight of scavenger activities. The group's legacy remained one of cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked fear and the lengths to which desperate individuals would go in the aftermath of a catastrophe. The remains they retrieved were handled with care, though many were never identified due to the passage of time and the chaotic conditions following the Ostholm experiments.^[4]

The formation of the Watch was rooted in the lingering trauma of the 2038 disaster on Skarnes, where Casey had escaped by boat to claim the islet as his own. Following the discovery of the Ostholm experiments by the Ring Guard in 2039, rumors swirled that a faction known as the Hand Physicians was attempting to reanimate their subjects. The Watch emerged not from a formal charter, but from a collective paranoia among those who knew the island's history. They believed that if cultists managed to recover the bodies of the experiment subjects, they would use them to unleash a supernatural catastrophe upon the █lmarkan Empire.^[1]

The group operated in the shadow of the local administration, which was already struggling with the fallout from the Protectorate Wars and the subsequent occupation of the Salt Coast. The Watch's existence was confirmed only in later oral histories and fragmented police records from the late 1960s and 1970s. Their primary objective was to ensure that no human remains remained on the shores of Skarnes where they could be disturbed by those seeking to resurrect the dead.^[2]

The network coalesced in 1964, drawing from isolated individuals who had witnessed the aftermath of the Ostholm disaster. Early members included former fishermen turned scavengers who utilized small boats to search the treacherous waters around Skarnes. Their initial efforts were marked by secrecy and urgency, driven by rumors that cultists sought to reanimate the deceased. The group's methods involved navigating dangerous currents and storm-tossed seas to locate remains before they could be claimed by others.^[2]

In the early years, the Watch operated with a rotating roster of volunteers who risked their lives in the rough waters off the coast of █lmarka. They developed specialized techniques for spotting debris in heavy fog and identifying specific markers left by the experiment subjects. Despite their efforts, they could not always reach the shore before the tide washed the bodies into deeper channels or scattered them across the reef. The psychological toll on the group was immense; many members reported hallucinations and nightmares involving the voices of the dead.^[3]

The Ostholm Watch's operations frequently clashed with the local fishing community. Their desperate searches for remains often disrupted fishing nets and endangered boats near the islet. These confrontations led to violent incidents, as both parties viewed the other as a threat to their survival. The fisheries accused the scavengers of recklessness, while the Watch maintained that their actions were necessary to prevent a supernatural catastrophe. These tensions escalated into open conflict, drawing attention from local authorities and complicating the already precarious situation on Skarnes.^[3]

The economic impact of the Watch's activities was severe for the fishing villages surrounding Skarnes. Entire fleets were grounded while scavengers worked the waters, leading to significant loss of income for families who had long relied on the sea. In 1968, a series of violent altercations resulted in the death of one fisherman and two Watch members. The incident highlighted the depth of the divide between those seeking profit and those driven by religious fervor and fear.^[4]

The Ostholm Watch ceased operations by the late 1970s, as the immediate threat of cultist reanimation campaigns subsided and local authorities increased their oversight of scavenger activities. The group's legacy remained one of cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked fear and the lengths to which desperate individuals would go in the aftermath

• Ostholm experiments
• Cult of Landon
• Skarnes